Rockies defense turns back Northridge

MIDDLEBURY – It was a night when the story was meant to be written by the defense and in the end defense was the story – the Plymouth defense – as the Rockies took a very big road win over Northridge by a 35-19 score.

“Our front seven was pretty stout tonight. Between (Marcos) Rodriguez and (Matt) LaFree and (Chaz) Scruggs and (Brandt) Peters – those guys wreaked some havoc in there and (Caleb) Weirs and (Caleb) Koss,” said Plymouth head coach John Barron. “There was some smacking going on out there. We talked to them about the physicality of the game. How physical Northridge would be and had been on all the film.”

An offense that had run up 55 points for the Raiders against Wawasee the week before struggled to mount any type of concentrated threat all night against an inspired Rockie defense. The two Northridge first half scores were created by big plays from their defense – a pick six by Payton Carson and a fumble recovery on a batted backward pass that was recovered at the Plymouth two yard line.

The Plymouth defense put points on the board themselves with a pair of pick sixes – by Matt Friar and Cam Eveland – and putting adding another interception from Colton Schuler who also had a fumble recovery and a “take away” by Kyle Lacefield who stripped the ball from Northridge’s Cam Ridenour as he was headed for six points.

“They really stepped up to the challenge,” said Barron. “Anytime you have two pick sixes in a ballgame and both those kids are so deserving. (Matt) Friar is a crafty guy and (Coach Brent) Corbett called it that they were going to slant and Cam (Eveland) was going to jump it. You saw his athleticism there.”

Eveland’s interception helped take the fight out of the Raiders in the fourth quarter and the two Plymouth defensive scores would end up being the difference in the game.

It was a wild end to a game that had a wild start. Plymouth’s second play from scrimmage was a 55 yard Jack Barron touchdown run and the ensuing kick off was an onside kick recovered by kicker Jacob LaFree. The pair of defensive gems by Northridge had them up 13-7 until a strong Plymouth drive put them on top at halftime 14-13.

“I thought we got off the bus pretty focused with the big run by Jack and the onside kick,” said Barron. “I think any idea they might have had that we were a team that might be flat or not wanting to compete – I think that woke them up.

“We hung in there. Fulton was a warrior for us and anytime we get the ball in Drudge’s hands good things happen. (Brandon) Zehner had a big catch on third down it was great to see him do that.”

Plymouth is unbeaten (4-0) headed into a home match up with Elkhart Memorial next week. Northridge is 3-1.

Score by Quarters

Plymouth 7 7 14 7 – 35

Northridge 13 0 6 0 – 19

P – Jack Barron 56 yard run (Jacob LaFree kick

N – Cam Ridenour 3 yd run, (Kick)

N – Payton Carson INT return (Kick failed)

Second Quarter

P – Justin Drudge 6 yd pass from Barron (Kick)

Third Quarter

P – Matt Friar INT return (Kick)

P – Drudge 23 yd pass from Barron (Kick)

N – Carson 1 yd run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

P – Cam Eveland INT return (Kick)